self help

You wrote an explanatory email, you sent a PowerPoint deck, you crafted a white paper, you created an infographic, you made a video, and with all that, people in the meeting still had questions. It’s because you didn’t sing what you meant.

When I asked a long-standing business acquaintance of mine why he was interested in data literacy, he said, "Data is all anyone is talking about. I don't know anything about it at all. I thought you guys would be a good place to start." In some cases, this would have been a totally reasonable exchange – a mid-level executive seeking continuing professional education. But in this case, the man's title was SVP Marketing. I say "was" because he just updated his LinkedIn profile. Not surprisingly, after three years at his present job, this 18-year corporate marketing veteran is looking for work. Sadly, he is unemployable. While he's under 40 and looks like a Millennial, he has been "inside" too long and lacks the skills to be competitive in this job market. So, in his honor, here are six things he could have done to future-proof his job ...

Since so many of us like to dress up on Halloween and pretend to be something scary or something we’re not, I thought it would be fun to reflect on the kinds of hacks that are scary, like to dress up in costumes and pretend they are something that they are not.

Preview modes are great – they give you an idea of how your work will look or sound in the best possible scenario. The problem is that all such tools are gigantic crutches, and in most cases they will severely limit your creativity and your creative potential.

First and foremost, the transition from corporate executive to successful consultant has more to do with self-knowledge than subject matter expertise or skill. If you have been successful in business, you probably have the skills to become a successful consultant, but here are seven important things to think about.